Romeoville, Ill. – Freshman third baseman Bryan Polak (Alsip, Ill./Marist) hit a two-run homer down the right field line in the top of the sixth, but it was far from enough as the Saint Xavier University baseball team fell 7-2 to NCAA Division II Lewis University (Ill.) Tuesday afternoon at Brennan Field in Romeoville, Ill. Senior right-hander Dan Maton (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) took the loss (0-2) on the mound for the Cougars throwing the first three innings and allowing three hits, two runs (both earned) and two walks with two strikeouts. Polak finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate with the homer and two RBI.

The Flyers scored first plating two runs in the bottom of the third on a two-out, two-RBI double to the gap in left centerfield by junior first baseman Jared Pyatt. A double steal in the bottom of the fourth gave Lewis a 3-0 lead. Senior right fielder Chris Klein (Huntley, Ill./Huntley) opened the sixth inning with a double to left centerfield and, after back-to-back outs, Polak came up with the timely home run to close the gap to a single run, 3-2. However, the Flyers answered right back in the bottom of the frame with RBI off a single and a sacrifice fly to extend their lead to 5-2. Lewis scored two more runs, one in the seventh and one in the eighth, to close out the game. SXU was limited to just two hits over the final three innings. Junior shortstop Damon Softcheck (Joliet, Ill./Triton JC/Joliet West) was the only other Cougar to join Polak with multiple hits Tuesday going 2-for-4 as well.

Saint Xavier (12-17 overall/7-3 CCAC) gets back to Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play on Wednesday, April 9, with a road doubleheader against Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.). The first game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start in Whiting, Ind.